Nambotin leads the way on day one in EWC at Jerez
Phillips and Gardiner claim Saturday podium finishes.
Source: KTM.
Christophe Nambotin set the pace on day one of the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship in Spain.
Delivering the goods in extremely hot and dusty terrain in Jerez, KTM-mounted Nambotin topped the standings in the Enduro 1 class.
There was a third win in a row for KTM’s Antoine Meo in Enduro 2 while Husqvarna’s Mathias Bellino was the rider to beat in the Enduro 3 ranks.
Kicking off the start of her Women’s Cup title, Spain’s Laia Sanz (KTM) delivered the home crowd the victory they all came to see.
The fight for top honours in the Enduro 2 class was extremely close between both Meo (KTM) and Pela Renet (Husqvarna). With unfinished business from Chile, Renet was determined to not let Meo get the better of him and held a tiny six tenths of a second lead with two tests to go.
But a crash on the final cross test from the Husqvarna rider was all it took for Meo to sneak into the lead and claim his third win in a row. Behind the leading duo, Alex Salvini (Honda) held station in third.
Similar to E2, the Enduro 3 class featured a head-to-head battle for victory. Defending champion Matt Phillips (KTM) was back on form and fighting for the win with Husqvarna’s Bellino.
Constantly swapping and changing position throughout the day, it was a costly mistake from Phillips that finally offered Bellino enough breathing room to secure the win.
Ensuring three different manufactures featured on the podium, Italy’s Manuel Monni ended his day third for TM.
In the Enduro 1 class there was absolutely no stopping Nambotin (KTM). The Frenchman was simply unbeatable and managed to set the fastest time in all of the E1 special tests. Securing a near one-minute margin of victory, Nambotin also unofficially ended his day as the fastest outright.
With Nambotin running away with proceedings, TM’s Eero Remes and Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero (Yamaha) took the remainder of the podium positions.
Making a winning start to her championship defence, newly-signed KTM rider Laia Sanz claimed victory in the Women’s Cup.
Australia’s Jessica Gardiner (Sherco) placed as runner-up to Sanz, while Jane Daniels (Husqvarna) completed the top three. Second of the Aussies, Yamaha’s Jemma Wilson, was fourth.
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